To add your knowledge and help expand the wiki [[FamilySearch Wiki:Help wanted on the Belgium pages|click here:]]

== Featured Content ==

== Featured Content ==

Line 107:

Line 112:

That you won't normally find the names of soldiers killed in action in the&nbsp; "Guldenboek der Vuurkaart" or "Livre d'Or des Cartes de Feu"?&nbsp; Read more at http://www.tenboome.webruimtehosting.net/guldenboek/Guldenboekprojecttotaal/goldenbook.htm

That you won't normally find the names of soldiers killed in action in the&nbsp; "Guldenboek der Vuurkaart" or "Livre d'Or des Cartes de Feu"?&nbsp; Read more at http://www.tenboome.webruimtehosting.net/guldenboek/Guldenboekprojecttotaal/goldenbook.htm

</div><!--All text below this is included in a column on the left side of the screen.--><div style="width: 24%; float: left">

</div><!--All text below this is included in a column on the left side of the screen.--><div style="width: 24%; float: left">

Revision as of 03:44, 31 July 2013

Contents

Getting started with Belgium research

Since the middle ages, Belgium has been dominated by powerful nations such as Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Although its social, political, and relgious identity has evolved over these many years it began to earnestly striving to gain its independence from the Netherlands in 1830. The London Convention of April 19 1839, also known as the Article XXIV of the Convention, marks the recognition of the Belgian independence.

Belgium was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II.

The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities.

Research Tools

The following information comes from the periodical "Belgian Laces": Here is a web-site that will help you find villages or towns that may no longer exist on current Belgian maps: Notre BelgiqueUnder "Coin Lecture" you will find 4 choices:

Le Saviez-vous gives you a story behind the creation of Belgium's National Anthem, "La Brabançonne"

Vieux Metiers contains a short list of occupations (in French)

Dictionnaires offers 3 choices:

A 1802 Geographic Dictionary of all Departments in France (3 volumes in alphabetical order)

A Geographic dictionary of the 13 Departments in Belgium and East of the Rhein River (2 volumes)

A 1882 Belgian Geographic dictionary

They are expecting to add more books in the future. Nine are currently underway.